Public consultation launches for new Tram Train stop and Park & Ride

Monday 26 Jul 2021

Public consultation launches for new Tram Train stop and Park & Ride

Region & Route:: Eastern; | Eastern: North & East

Plans are progressing for a new Tram Train stop and Park & Ride in Templeborough, Rotherham.

People are being invited to have their say on the proposals in a public consultation running from Monday 26 July until Friday 3 September 2021.

The proposed transport scheme will link Magna Science & Adventure Centre to the Tram Train network, to improve Tram Train and tram connectivity, access to employment, walking and cycling opportunities, air quality and congestion.

Tram Trains provide a direct service from Sheffield city centre to Rotherham Central and Parkgate, travelling on street tramlines and the national rail network. The proposed new stop is the first addition to the network since it opened in 2018.

Part of Sheffield City Region’s £166 million Transforming Cities Fund programme, the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) and Network Rail proposals link to Rotherham Council’s proposals for an active travel corridor between Rotherham town centre and Tinsley, and Sheffield City Council’s proposals for walking and cycling links continuing to Meadowhall.

SYPTE Director of Transport Operations, Pat Beijer, said: “Passengers in South Yorkshire are the first in the UK to benefit from pioneering Tram Trains, and we’re seeking your views to help shape this ambitious project - the first to grow the network since it opened in 2018. The important proposals aim to improve connectivity between local neighbourhoods and centres. We hope the new Tram Train stop and Park & Ride will help to address traffic congestion and air quality in the area, particularly at Junction 34 of the M1, by encouraging people to think about choosing public transport and active travel over private cars.”

Proposals for the new stop aim to improve accessibility and provide growth opportunities in the Templeborough and Sheffield Road area.

Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and the Environment, Cllr Dominic Beck, said: “We want everyone in Rotherham to have sustainable, convenient and affordable travel options – and public transport is central to that. This scheme stands to benefit us all by reducing traffic congestion and harmful emissions, so I encourage everyone who lives in, works in or travels through this area to examine the proposals, and help make the most of this investment.”

Route Director for Network Rail’s North and East route, Matt Rice, added: “The proposed Tram Train stop would improve connectivity for local businesses, visitors to Magna Science & Adventure Centre and people living in the Rotherham area, with better access to a fast, clean method of transport. We’re pleased to be working closely with SYPTE and join them in encouraging local residents and Tram Train users to share their views through the consultation.”

People can take part in the consultation:

online at travelsouthyorkshire.com/Magna
by calling Traveline 01709 515151
via a paper form from the Customer Service Desk at Meadowhall, Rotherham and Sheffield Interchange
by registering to attend an online Q&A session

Online Q&A sessions will take place on Wednesday 11 August 2021 at 12pm – 1pm and Wednesday 18 August 2021 at 6pm – 7pm. Registration will be available at travelsouthyorkshire.com/Magna

Feedback from the consultation will help shape and inform the design and operational requirements for the scheme.

Notes to Editors

For more information contact SYPTE Communications Team at communications@sypte.co.uk

Tram Train

South Yorkshire’s award-winning Tram Train service became operational in 2018 and provides improved public transport connections between the two key centres of Rotherham and Sheffield. Tram Train runs on tramlines between Sheffield Cathedral and Meadowhall South/Tinsley and on the rail network in Rotherham and Parkgate.

The popular service, operated by South Yorkshire Supertram Limited (SYSL), has high levels of passenger customer satisfaction and over 1.6 million passenger journeys since its launch. Three Tram Train services per hour (reduced to two services per hour during the Coronavirus pandemic) operate in each direction.

Ambitions have been set to extend Tram Train to other parts of South Yorkshire giving access to thousands along existing railway lines, including into Barnsley Dearne Valley, Waverly, Doncaster and Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

Transforming Cities Fund

More than £166 million was secured by Dan Jarvis, Mayor of the Sheffield City Region, from the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund for South Yorkshire’s transport network.

Magna Science & Adventure Centre

Magna Science & Adventure Centre opened in 2001 and provides an educational experience for families and schools, focussing on science and technology. The Centre and is located in the Lower Don Valley on A6178 Sheffield Road, close to Junction 34 of the M1 corridor. Most trips to the centre are by car (or coach for school parties).

The Lower Don Valley and A6178 corridor experience high levels of congestion and are located within an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA). Interventions are required to allow people to make better sustainable travel choices, to reduce pollution and improve the health and wellbeing of people living and working in the area.

Existing Tram Train lines run to the rear of the Magna Science & Adventure Centre, providing a sustainable and efficient alternative travel option between Sheffield, Rotherham and Parkgate.

Contact information

Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41

Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries

Journalists
Kathryn Muffett
Media Relations Manager
Network Rail
01904 383180
kathryn.muffett@networkrail.co.uk

About Network Rail

We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.

Usually, there are almost five million journeys made in the UK and over 600 freight trains run on the network. People depend on Britain's railway for their daily commute, to visit friends and loved ones and to get them home safe every day. Our role is to deliver a safe and reliable railway, so we carefully manage and deliver thousands of projects every year that form part of the multi-billion pound Railway Upgrade Plan, to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years.

Media centre